President Trump, providing no evidence, renewed his claim today that the sea of humanity inching its way north from Central Americato the United States is a pit of unsavory gangsters and terrorists.
The caravan of migrants mostly from Guatemala and Honduras bedded down last night on the concrete of a town square in Tapachula, Mexico, but awoke this morning determined to resume their arduous journey to the U.S. border still some 1,700 miles away.
Trump, meanwhile, in a series of tweets asserted that “criminals and unknown Middle Easterners” are amid the crowd.
“Sadly, it looks like Mexico’s Police and Military are unable to stop the Caravan heading to the Southern Border of the United States. Criminals and unknown Middle Easterners are mixed in. I have alerted Border Patrol and Military that this is a National Emerg[enc]y. Must change laws!” he tweeted.
Sadly, it looks like Mexico’s Police and Military are unable to stop the Caravan heading to the Southern Border of the United States. Criminals and unknown Middle Easterners are mixed in. I have alerted Border Patrol and Military that this is a National Emergy. Must change laws!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 22, 2018
Trump offered no evidence that anyone from the Middle East is with the Central American migrants.
An ABC News crew traveling with the group has also seen no evidence to support the president’s claim.
He again said Democrats are to blame for not working with his administration on immigration reform, even though Republicans control a majority in both the House and Senate.
“Every time you see a Caravan, or people illegally coming, or attempting to come, into our Country illegally, think of and blame the Democrats for not giving us the votes to change our pathetic Immigration Laws! Remember the Midterms! So unfair to those who come in legally,” he said.
Every time you see a Caravan, or people illegally coming, or attempting to come, into our Country illegally, think of and blame the Democrats for not giving us the votes to change our pathetic Immigration Laws! Remember the Midterms! So unfair to those who come in legally.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 22, 2018
Trump reiterated, too, his threat to pull foreign aid from Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador, an unprecedented consequence for the developing nations whose migrant exodus has largely been controlled by drug cartels and human traffickers, not government agencies.
Up to 7,000 people are now traveling in the caravan, according to the Los Angeles Times; the Associated Press reported 5,000 and AFP counted as few as 3,000.
Several thousand are thought to have returned home, some on buses provided by the Guatemalan government, after being blocked at the Mexican border.
The migrants in the caravan, many of whom are trudging north on worn shoes or bare feet, with some fainting from dehydration along the way, say they are fleeing violence and murderous gangs in their homelands.
They have been warned by Mexican federal officials that they entered that country illegally and have been advised to go to shelters and apply for asylum to legally remain in the country, at least temporarily.